Shirley's Date Nut Pinwheels Christmas

Add a touch of nostalgia and festive charm to your holiday cookie platter with Shirley's Date Nut Pinwheels Christmas cookies. These elegant, swirl-stamped treats combine a buttery, soft dough with a rich filling of sweet dates and crunchy walnuts for a symphony of texture and flavor. Perfectly spiced with vanilla and kissed by brown sugar, these cookies are as beautiful as they are delicious. The recipe features a meticulous rolling technique, ensuring the signature pinwheel design that makes these cookies a true show-stopper for any Christmas celebration. With just a bit of advanced preparation—chilling the dough for easy slicing—you'll be rewarded with 36 delightful bites of holiday cheer. Whether you're hosting a family gathering or crafting edible gifts, these cookies capture the spirit of the season in every swirl.

Nutriscore Rating: 48/100

Prep Time:30 mins

Cook Time:10 mins

Total Time:40 mins

Servings: 36

Ingredients

• 2.5 cups all-purpose flour
• 0.5 teaspoons baking powder
• 0.25 teaspoons baking soda
• 0.25 teaspoons salt
• 0.5 cups unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cups granulated sugar
• 0.5 cups light brown sugar, packed
• 1 units large egg
• 1 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1.5 cups pitted dates, finely chopped
• 0.5 cups water
• 0.5 cups granulated sugar (for filling)
• 1 cups chopped walnuts

Directions

Step 1

In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

Step 2

In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and light brown sugar until light and fluffy.

Step 3

Beat in the egg and vanilla extract, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.

Step 4

Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until a dough forms. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate while preparing the filling.

Step 5

In a small saucepan, combine the chopped dates, water, and granulated sugar for the filling. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the dates break down and the mixture thickens into a spreadable consistency (about 5-7 minutes). Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature.

Step 6

Once the filling is cooled, stir in the chopped walnuts.

Step 7

Divide the chilled dough into two equal portions. Roll out one portion on a floured surface into a 10x8-inch rectangle.

Step 8

Spread half of the date and nut filling evenly over the rolled-out dough, leaving a small border around the edges.

Step 9

Carefully roll the dough into a tight log, starting from the long side. Wrap the log in plastic wrap and repeat with the second portion of dough and filling.

Step 10

Chill the logs in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or until firm enough to slice.

Step 11

Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.

Step 12

Unwrap the chilled logs and slice into 1/4-inch thick rounds using a sharp knife. Place the slices onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart.

Step 13

Bake in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.

Step 14

Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for 2 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Step 15

Store in an airtight container for up to one week. Enjoy the festive swirls of flavor!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1450.5g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	5267.9

Total Fat 182.4g	0%
Saturated Fat 69.8g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0g
Cholesterol 444.3mg	0%
Sodium 1257.1mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 896.7g	0%
Dietary Fiber 38.5g	0%
Total Sugars 626.0g
Protein 63.9g	0%

Vitamin D 41IU	0%
Calcium 478.6mg	0%
Iron 21.5mg	0%
Potassium 3385.7mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 29.9%

Protein: 4.7%

Carbs: 65.4%